This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Michael J. Hodgson, MD, MPH
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

JAMA. 1988;260(5):636.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Brundage et al¹ are to be commended on their fascinating study, although they may understate its importance. Transmission of viral disease through ventilation systems has indeed been well described, but only for measles, rubella, and varicella viruses. Common features of these three viruses include high primary and secondary attack rates. The reference cited by Brundage et al concerning influenza outbreaks in penal institutions and schools² does not address the relationship of the epidemics with ventilation systems. Another reference³ refers to two outbreaks of allergic lung disease, one related to a central air washer⁴ and one to cafeteria flooding.⁵ Their own data are therefore the first, to my knowledge, to suggest an increased frequency of respiratory tract infections from common viruses related simply to mechanical ventilation.

Two factors may contribute to the recirculation and viability of viruses in the indoor air, leading to . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?